Expansion joint



May 3o, 1939. J. SCHURMAN 2,160,758v

EXPANSION JOINT v Filed April 5o, 1,938

BY WM @En u f l %NEY Patented May 30, 1939 PATENT OFFICE EXPANSION JOINT John Schurman, Highland Park, Mich., assignor to Albert Kahn, Inc., a corporation of Michigall Application April 30, 1938, Serial No. 205,207

6 Claims.

This invention relates to expansion joints and in particular to expansion joints for use in buildings and the like.

In the construction of buildings, particularly in factory buildings, exhibition buildings, stadia, railroad stations, hangars and the like covering largev areas, it is often necessary to make joints therein at suitable spacing to allow for the creeping of the building longitudinally and transverse- 10 ly due to the expansion and contraction of materials employed in the construction thereof caused by changes in temperatures to which the structure is exposed.

In addition to the longitudinal and transverse movement of a building resulting from temperature changes, the various portions thereof are apt to settle unevenly on their respective foundations Which is generally caused by loading the structure unevenly or in excess of the live load for which the structure is designed to support, or is the result of supporting a structure on an unstable soil.

Therefore, at any expansion joint made in a building or at any expansion joint made between buildings, if the buildings are of any major size, weatherproof means for permitting free relative multi-directional movement between the parts of a building or between adjoining buildings is revquired. With the foregoing in view, the main object of this invention is to provide an expansion joint adapted to permit free relative multi-directional movement between buildings or portions thereof. Another object of this invention is to provide a weatherproof expansion joint for use between buildings and portions thereof which will admit of a substantially universal movement therebetween. v

l Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and easy to erect Weatherproof expansion joint for building construction and the like which may be readily applied to vertical, horizontal and diagonal jointsand which admits of a substantially universal movement between parts of buildings or adjoining buildings (Cl. 'z2-10s) pansion joint vdisclosed in Fig. 1 showing the shape to which the cover plates of the grip member are formed prior to assembly on a spacer strip.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed sectional views similar'to Fig. l showing how the expansion joint 5 disclosed in Fig. 1 accommodates itself to movements between portions of a structure joined thereby.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the application of the expansion joint disclosed 10 in Figs. l and 2 to a transverse joint at the roof of a building.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view showing the application of the expansion joint disclosed in Figs. l and 2 to a transverse joint at the l5 roof of a building.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the preferred embodiment of the novel expansion joint disclosed 20 in Figs. l to 5 inclusive comprises, in general, a resilient sheet metal diaphragm III frictionally engaged in slidable relationship within a grip member generally designated by the numeral II throughout the drawing which is composed of a. 25 pair of resilient sheet metal grip plates I2 bent preferably as indicated in Fig. 2 prior to assembly on a spacer strip I3 by the nails I4 or other like i securing means, the said diaphragm I0 being frictionally telescoped within the said grip mem- 30 ber II when the said diaphragm I0 and the grip member I I are secured by suitable means to adjacent parts of a structure or to adjacent structures joined thereby.

The diaphragm I0 is formed to suit the struc- 35 ture to which it is attached and is always fixed to its support in such a manner as to present a free and unsupported strip capable of being flexed with respect to its support without fouling structure adjacent thereto. The said diaphragm I0 40 is formed of a flexible metal preferably thinner than the flexible metal of which the grip plates I2 of the grip member I I are formed.

The grip plates I2 of the grip member II are formed opposite hand substantially as indicated 45 in Fig. 2 to provide oppositely disposed contact points I5 which are constantly urged toward each other by the resiliency of the iiexible sheet metal of which the said grip plates I2 are formed after the said grip plates I2 are secured to the spacer 50 strip I3 by the securing means I4.

Suitable apertures I6 and Il are preferably kprovided through the grip plates I2 and the may be positioned. Although the grip member I I has been disclosed as comprising a pair of grip plates I2 secured to a spacer strip I3, it is obvious that the spacer strip I3 may be dispensed with and the grip plates I2 may be joined together at the portion thereof which is secured to the structure to which the said grip member II is attached.

Because of the fact that the diaphragm I0 is thinner andA consequently more resilient than the grip plates I2 of the grip member Il, the contact points I5 of the said grip member II will always maintain themselves in substantially opposite abutment to each other on opposite sides of the diaphragm I!) when the diaphragm is telescoped therebetween r-egardless of whether the diaphragm II] maintains itself in its normal position with respect to the grip member I I as shown in Fig. l or fleXes due to the relative lateral movement of the structure to which the diaphragm Ill and the grip member II are secured as best indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

In addition to flexing as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 the diaphragm Ill slides between the contact points I5 of the grip member II as it flexes with respect thereto, or, the diaphragm II] may slide between the contact points I5 of the grip member I I when the structure to which the said diaphragm I@ and grip member Il are secured moves in a direction normal or substantially normal to the lateral movement thereof as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Also, the diaphragm Iii will obviously slide upwardly and downwardly between the contact points I5 of the grip member II simultaneously with the other hereinbefore described movements of the said diaphragm Iii with respect to the grip member II. Therefore, inasmuch as both the said flexible and sliding movements of the diaphragm It with respect to the grip member II may occur simultaneously, it is obvious that the use of the novel expansion joints disclosed herein admits of a substantially universal movement of parts of structures and structures with respect to each other when joined by the said expansion joints.

Because of t'ne fact that the resilient grip plates I2 of the grip member II constantly and rmly engage both sides of the diaphragm II) at all times, a double weather joint is always provided between structures or parts thereof employing the novel expansion joint herein disclosed.

Fig. 5 shows a typical application of the novel expansion joint disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 to a transverse joint at the roof of a building. The purlins I3 and I3 and the roof carried thereby are each free to move laterally with respect to each other as indicated by the double headed arrows 2@ in Fig. 5, also, the said purlins I8 and I9 and the roof carried thereby are each free to settle downwardly independent of each other as indicated by the arrows 2l in Fig. 5. The said purlins I8 and i9 and the roof carried thereby are also each free te move longitudinally with respect to each other.

in the construction shown in Fig. 5, the said purlins I3 and I9 support curb plates 22 and 23 respectively to which wooden curbs 24 and 25 are secured. A cap nailer 25 is secured to a continuous angle 2l disposed along and supported by the curb plate 23. Roong 28 from the roof carried by the said purlins I8 and IS is turned up and nailed to the said curbs 2li and 25. 1n the particular construction shown, the purpose of the said curbs is to provide, in effect, a parapet between two portions of a building joined together by an expansion joint embodying the invention and to position the said expansion joint sufficiently above the roof supported by the said purlins I8 and I9 to prevent water from the said roof, if flooded, from leaking through the said expansion joint.

A diaphragm I0 is preferably secured to the wooden curb 24 by suitable wood screws 29 and the roofers washers 3U, and the grip member II is preferably secured to the wooden cap nailer 2t by suitable wood screws 29 and metal disc washers 3l. A cap flashing 32 is preferably provided over the top of the cap nailer 25 and the grip member II.

Fig. 6 shows a typical application of the novel expansion joint hereinbefore disclosed and described in detail to a Vertical joint at the side of a building. The columns 33 and 34 are each free to move laterally and transversely with respect to each other as indicated by the double headed arrows 35 in Fig. 6, also, the said columns 33 and 3G are each free to settle on their respective foundations independently with respect to each other.

En the particular construction shown in Fig. 6, the columns 33 and 34 are composed of an I-beam and two channels. The column 33 is provided with a continuous vertical angle 36 to which a diaphragm IBB is secured by suitable bolts 3l and disc washers SI. The diaphragm IUI) is similar to the diaphragm I0 hereinbefore described except that it is suitably bent to t around the outstanding leg of its supporting angle 36. The column 3G is provided with a plurality of continuous vertical gunite trim angles 38. The gunite angle 38 disposed nearest the column 33 has a continuous plate 39 welded thereto to which a suitable wooden nailer 260 is secured. A grip member II is preferably secured to the wooden nailer 268 by the wood screws 29 and metal disc washers 3l. A hashing strip 320 is preferably provided over the wooden nailer 260 and the grip member II. It will be noted that the diaphragm I ilashes itself behind the brick wall it at column 33 and that the ilashing strip 320 at column 36 extends around one leg of the gunite angle 38 nearest column 33 and flashes itself in the gunite column facing 4I.

Except for the surrounding details of construction, the installation of the applicants novel expansion joint disclosed herein is the same in the case of the vertical joint shown in Fig. 6 as for the horizontal joints shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. It is obvious that the novel expansion joint disclosed herein may be easily and readily applied to the endless number of conditions which present themselves in building construction and the like and which require a simple, positive, inexpensive weatherproof means for permitting a free relative substantially universal movement between parts of buildings or adjoining buildings.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention and two applications thereof have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many changes and modications may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and details of the various elements of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof and it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An expansion joint of the class described comprising a grip member composed of a pair of continuous resilient grip plates secured flxed With respect to each other along one side thereof,

inwardly disposed continuous contact points formed along the unconnected sides of the said grip plates constantly urged toward each other by the resiliency of the said grip plates, and a continuous resilient diaphragm telescopingly engaged in slidable relationship between said grip plates, the said joint admitting of a substantially universal movement between structures connected thereby simultaneously with maintaining a double weather joint at all times between said structures.

2. An expansion joint of the class described comprising a grip member composed of a pair of continuous resilient grip plates secured xed with respect to each other along one side thereof, inwardly disposed continuous contact points formed along the unconnected sides of the said grip plates constantly urged toward each other by the resiliency of the said grip plates, and a continuous diaphragm of greater resiliency than each grip plate of the said grip member telescopingly engaged in slidable relationshipbetween said grip plates, the said joint admitting of a substantially universal movement between structures connected thereby simultaneously with maintaining a double weather joint at all times between said structures.

3. In combination, an expansion joint comprising a grip member secured to one structure composed of a pair of continuous resilient oppositely disposed grip plates each having a continuous contact point therealong spaced from the said structure, the said grip plates being formed to constantly urge the said contact points toward each other by the resiliency of the said grip plates when juxtaposed, a continuous diaphragm secured to an adjacent structure telescopingly engaged in slidable relationship between the contact points of the said grip plates, the said joint admitting of substantially universal multi-directional movement of the said structures with respect to each other while constantly maintaining a double weather joint therebetween.

4. In combination, an expansion joint comprising a grip member secured to one structure composed of a pair of continuous resilient oppositely disposed grip plates each having a continuous Contact point therealong spaced from the said structure, the said grip plates being formed to constantly urge the said contact points toward each other by the resiliency of the said grip plates when juxtaposed, and a continuous diaphragm of greater resiliency than each grip plate of the said grip member secured to an adjacent structure telescopingly engaged in slidable relationship between the contact points of the said grip plates, the said joint admitting of substantially universal multi-directional movement of the said structures with respect to each other while constantly maintaining a double weather joint therebetween.

5. An expansion joint of the class described comprising a grip member composed of a pair of continuous resilient grip plates secured fixed with respect to each other along one side thereof, a continuous contact point formed along the free side of each of the said grip plates disposed to register with each other when the said grip plates are juxtaposed, the said grip plates being bent near the fixed sides thereof whereby to cause the said contact points formed along the free sides thereof to be constantly urged toward each other by the resiliency of the said grip plates when the said grip plates are secured together, and a continuous resilient diaphragm telescopingly engaged in slidable relationship between the contact points of the said grip member, the said joint admitting of substantially universal movement between structures connected thereby simultaneously with maintaining a double weather joint at all times between said structures.

6. An expansion joint of the class described comprising a grip member composed of a pair of continuous resilient grip plates secured xed with respect to each other along one side thereof, a continuous contact point formed along the free side of each of the said grip plates disposed to register with each other when the said grip plates are juxtaposed, the said grip plates being bent near the fixed sides thereof whereby to cause the said contact points formed along the free sides thereof to be constantly urged toward each other by the resiliency of the said grip plates when the said grip plates are secured together, and a continuous diaphragm of greater resiliency than each grip plate of the said grip member.

telescopingly engaged in slidable relationship between the contact points of the said grip member, the said joint admitting of substantially universal movement between structures connected thereby simultaneously with maintaining a double weather joint at all times between said structures.

JOHN SCI-IURMAN. 

